The History of Quesnel forks and surrounding area
Quesnel Forks and the Lost Chinaman Mine north of Kangaroo Gulch.
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Founded in 1859, it was the region’s first great gold rush town, and had a population of about three thousand in the 1860s, the majority of whom were Chinese miners, the last of whom died as late as 1959.
It even had a Tong House, which was still (barely) stand Map ing in 1996. As befi ts a ghost town it is a haunting, tranquil place. The river rushes by a flat, grassy area where there are a few log buildings in various stages of decay and restoration. There is a space for campers, and even a small outdoor beer garden built by friends in memory of a local resident. The most interesting feature is the graveyard, which has been restored by the Likely historical society, and which contains several graves of men who died violently, some at the Bullion Mine. |
These Photos of Quesnel Forks are curtesy of Dale attrell.
1863 was the most profitable year of the gold rush, with more than $4 million in placer gold being taken from the creeks and rivers of the Cariboo gold fields.
During that year, and for several years after, gold seekers continued to flood into the area, but the surface diggings on most of the creeks had been mined already.
In several places, hard rock mines were begun in order to get at the gold depoits on the bedrock, some 30- to 50-feet below the surface.
In other places, hydraulic mining began to gain in popularity, where many tons of gravel were washed away in order to obtain relatively small amounts of gold.
Rumours abounded of gold “up north” and many of the gold seekers moved on to the Stikene and the Cassian regions, looking for easy pickings.
Only the hardiest (some would say the foolhardiest) men remained, determined to find a little gold and at least break even.
Enter the Chinese miners....
During that year, and for several years after, gold seekers continued to flood into the area, but the surface diggings on most of the creeks had been mined already.
In several places, hard rock mines were begun in order to get at the gold depoits on the bedrock, some 30- to 50-feet below the surface.
In other places, hydraulic mining began to gain in popularity, where many tons of gravel were washed away in order to obtain relatively small amounts of gold.
Rumours abounded of gold “up north” and many of the gold seekers moved on to the Stikene and the Cassian regions, looking for easy pickings.
Only the hardiest (some would say the foolhardiest) men remained, determined to find a little gold and at least break even.
Enter the Chinese miners....